Product Description

Many gardeners are vaguely aware of the "greats" of plant exploration, such as E. H Wilson, George Forrest, or John Tradescant. Some may even have heard the stories of their discoveries of such familiar garden plants as dove trees, giant rhododendrons, and tulip trees. Even fewer gardeners, however, may know the names of today’s plant explorers or recognize the makings of a new golden age of plant discovery. Nonetheless, a quick visit to almost any nursery will reveal the bounty of these intrepid plant collectors, whose handiwork enriches gardens everywhere. But where do these plants come from? Who found them, and how are they introduced? Which of these plants are the favorites of the plant hunters themselves, and which are really worth growing? Bobby J. Ward provides the answers to these questions in The Plant Hunter’s Garden: The New Explorers and Their Discoveries.

The author profiles thirty-two of today’s more prolific plant hunters. From the Czech Republic to the Rocky Mountains, Ward has sought out those explorers in the private sphere who are collecting plants specifically for horticultural introduction, not just as scientific specimens for botanical collections. While providing interesting details on the lives and careers of these new explorers, the real focus of the book is on the plants themselves. Ward asked each of the hunters to choose the very best treasures from their years of collecting and has sumptuously illustrated these jewels in stunning photos. Many plants in these pages, such as Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’ or Lysimachia congestiflora ‘Eco Dark Satin’, became bestsellers quickly after introduction from the wild, but hundreds more underappreciated gems, from Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’ to Tripterospermum japonicum, are sure to entice and surprise any reader of this book.

From the comfort of the armchair or the potting-shed table, readers of The Plant Hunter’s Garden can embark on their own voyages of discovery in these delightful pages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #404492 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 340 pages

From Booklist
Ward profiles a rare group of individuals who are following in the footsteps of intrepid explorers of long ago who brought gardeners many of the plants that appear in today's gardens. And like those of the past, these modern plant hunters are discovering treasure troves of new species and varieties in remote regions of China, South Africa, South Asia,and even the U.S. Ward writes delightfully engaging portraits, introducing readers to folk such as Jim and Jenny Archibald, who produce a newsletter seed list from their base in Wales. And where would plant fanatics in this country be without the likes of Dan Hinckley, plantsman and explorer extraordinaire who created beautiful Heronswood Nursery? It's there that many of his discoveries are eventually made available to the public. All 32 plant hunters profiled are worthy of attention. Homebodies who love to garden will savor reading about vast realms of uncommon plants, the unique people who set out to find them, and the magical places where plants do, in fact, reign supreme. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"All 32 plant hunters profiled are worthy of attention. Homebodies who love to garden will savor reading about vast realms of uncommon plants, the unique people who set out to find them, and the magical places where plants do, in fact, reign supreme."
—Alice Joyce, Booklist, July 22, 2005 (Booklist )

"An engaging account of the travels and travails of thirty-two modern-day plant collectors."
—Pacific Horticulture, Summer 2005 (Pacific Horticulture )

"Ward is a knowledgeable plantsman, and here he proves himself an accomplished hunter of plant hunters."
—Michael Cunningham, Horticulture, April 2005 (Horticulture )

All 32 plant hunters profiled are worthy of attention. Homebodies who love to garden will savor reading about vast realms of uncommon plants, the unique people who set out to find them, and the magical places where plants do, in fact, reign supreme. Alice Joyce, Booklist, July 22, 2005 (Booklist )

An engaging account of the travels and travails of thirty-two modern-day plant collectors. Pacific Horticulture, Summer 2005 (Pacific Horticulture )

Ward is a knowledgeable plantsman, and here he proves himself an accomplished hunter of plant hunters. Michael Cunningham, Horticulture, April 2005 (Horticulture )

About the Author
Bobby J. Ward is a past president of the North American Rock Garden Society. He received his Ph.D. in botany from North Carolina State University and is a retired environmental scientist. A dedicated gardener, he has long been interested in plant names and plant lore. His book A Contemplation Upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth and Literature won the Quill & Trowel Award of the Garden Writers Association. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

A Must Read
This is a great book for someone wanting to read about how and where different plants come from. Ward takes you on a journey of exploration making each of the entries in this book an adventure. I really enjoyed reading about the Sargents and Wilsons of our time and the great plants they have contributed to. I have already found some plants that I can't live without.
The photography is first rate making each plant stand out at you with its vibrant colors.
This book may not be for everyone, but is well worth a look from master gardeners and those curious about the evolution of plants.

Expanding your horizons
Great book--both for armchair explorers and for those curious about the origin of stock from the collectors' nurseries.